Filling thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine

ABSTRACT

A filling thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine with selective filling insertion of the loop insertion principle, for periodical, simultaneous clamping of a plurality of filling threads between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion, with a fixed and movable clamping part, actuated by the weaving machine in the cycle of the filling insertion.

United States Patent Haltmeier Mar. 19, 1974 [5 FILLING THREAD CLAMPING DEVICE 3,633,711 1/1972 Pfarrwaller 139/122 R FOR A SHUTTLELESS WEAVING 2,665,7l6 l/l954 Budzyna et al. 139/127 R 2209,839 7 1940 Long 242/149 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Sept. 24, 1970 Switzerland l4256/7O [52] US. Cl. 139/194, 139/122 R [51] Int. Cl D03d 47/34 [58] Field of Search... 139/122 R, 1,127 R, 194;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3340.903 9/1967 Golobart 139/122 R MACHINE Inventor: Paul l-laltmeier, Brugg, Switzerland Assignee: Georg Fischer AG. Brugg, Brugg,

Switzerland Filed: Sept. 23, 1971 Appl. No.: 183,006

I l "1 l Primary ExaminerHenry S. Jaudon Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald D. Denton [5 7] ABSTRACT A filling thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine with selective filling insertion of the loop insertion principle, for periodical, simultaneous clamping of a plurality of filling threads between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion, with a fixed and movable clamping part, actuated by the weaving machine in the cycle of the filling insertion.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEUHAR 19 m4 3; 797 532 SHEET 3. 0F 3 PATENTEBMAR I 9 i974 SHEEI 2 [IF 3 FILLING THREAD CLAMPING DEVICE FOR A SIIUTTLELESS WEAVING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION On shuttleless weaving machines working on what is known as the loop insertion principle, a filling thread leading from the cloth selvage to the supply package is caught by an insertion carrier provided with guiding points and transported to the middle of warp shed where it is taken over by the meeting withdrawing carrier. Simultaneously with the transfer of the loop, the filling thread connected with the cloth selvage is cut at the selvage, whereupon the withdrawing carrier on its way out of the shed pulls the cut thread part over the remaining half of the warp shed. While the loop is being pulled out, the filling thread between supply package and warp shed must be blocked, so that in this interval it is no longer pulled from the supply package. The length of the filling thread end pulled out over the cloth selvage by the withdrawing carrier thus depends from the exact moment of blocking within the insertion cycle.

With weaving machines on which a plurality of filling threads, for examplev of different colors, are inserted alternately, clamping devices are known having a number of clamping points equal to the number of filling threads, said clamping points being jointly actuated on each filling insertion.

The disadvantage of such known clamping devices is that an adjustment of the individual clamping points to effect proper clamping of filling threads of different thickness is not possible and can only be effected in an unsatisfactory way. Furthermore, such clamping devices are subject to heavy contamination whereby cleaning is a time consuming and complicated process.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a filling thread clamping device that overcomes the above stated disadvantages. In particular, it allows an exact and reproducible adjustment of the individual clamping points in relation to different thread diameters so that blocking of all the filling threads occurs at exactly the same desired moment and in a positive manner.

The clamping device accordingly is characterized in that two clamping parts are pivotably connected with each other on an axis positioned at right angles to the direction of movement of the filling threads, with one of the clamping parts provided with a clamping face common to all of the filling threads and the other clamping part having an individual spring loaded depressor, one for each filling thread, movably guided perpendicularly to the plane of said clamping face, and

an adjusting member associated with each depressor to determine and control its stop position in relation to the clamping face for effecting a blocking of the filling thread when desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG. I showing details of an individual spring loaded depressor with a clamping foot thereon;

FIG. 4 is an alternate form of the depressor illustrated in FIG. 3 showing a clamping foot in the form of a rubber buffer;

FIG. 5 is a second alternate form of the depressor illustrated in FIG. 3 showing a spring clip attached to one of the clamping parts having a portion thereof resting against the clamping face;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of thread clamping device; and

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of thread clamping device in lifted position for cleaning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The clamping device of this invention has a lower part 2 fastened to loom side designated as numeral 1 and is provided with a straight or flat filling thread guiding face 3 that carries co-axial studs 4 and 5 on which an upper part 6 pivots in bearings 7 and 8, respectively. Setting nuts 13 are screwed into the upper part 6 and allocated to one each of, for example, four individual filling threads designated as 9, 10, 11, and 12. Each setting nut 13 can be turned by hand for raising or lowering it with respect to the top of the upper part 6 and, at its circumference, nut 13 is provided with indents 14 (see FIG. 2) into which a flat retaining spring 15 engages to lock or block the nut in a desired set position, thus providing a means for individual setting of the height of each nut 13. Stud shaped filling thread depressors 18 are guided in longitudinal bores 16 defined in the setting nuts 13 and bores 17 in the upper part 6. Each depressor 18 is provided with a clamping foot 32, preferably with a cylinder shaped bottom face, and is secured against axial rotation. In the lifted position of the upper part 6 (see FIG. 3), each depressor 18 is held in its adjusted stop position by the biasing force of a compression spring 19 and by stop nuts 20 fastened on the depressor and resting against the upper face of the setting nut 13.

The upper part 6 has a nose or projecting element 21 provided at bearing 8, which is pressed against a first arm 23 of an angle lever 26 by a compression spring 22 which is propped between the upper and the lower parts 2 and 6. The angle lever is pivotably borne on an eccentric part 24 of stud 25 which is mounted for rotation in the lower part 2.

A pushing rod 28 is guided in the lower part 2 and carries at one end a roller 30 with the other end of the pushing rod operatively connected to a second arm 27 of the angle lever 26 and being angularly disposed to the first arm 23 so that a horizontal movement of pushing rod 28 causes a vertical movement of first arm 23 by'the turning action of angle lever 26 causing the end of first arm 23 to move nose 2] in a vertical direction. The roller 30 follows a cam 29 borne on the weaving machine and rotating in the cycle of the filling insertion (see FIG. 1). As long as the roller follows the lower dwell 31 of cam 29, the upper part 6 is in lifted position by means of spring 22 keeping the foot 32 of each depressor 18 out of contact with the filling thread passing thereunder so that the filling threads 9, l0, l1, and 12 can freely pass under the depressors 18 whereby the contamination of the face 3 and surface of foot 32 is kept at a minimum. When the raised cam portion 33 of the cam 29 is rotated to a position of engagement with roller 30, the rod 28 is pushed to the left hand side and pivots the angle lever 26, whereby the upper part 6 is pivoted down around the axis of the studs 4 and 5. Thereby, the depressors 18 are depressed through the force of the compression springs 19 with the bottom faces of the foot 32 attached to the compressors biased against the face 3 of the lower part 2 with filling threads therebetween, and all the stop nuts are lifted off the setting nuts 13 thus effecting the simultaneous blocking of the filling threads.

In a certain almost completely screwed-in position of the setting nuts 13, the setting in height of the depressors 18 is such that on the downward movement of the upper part 6 all feet 32 contact the face 3 of the lower part simultaneously. This position of the setting nuts 13 is marked by a mark 34 (see FIG. I) in one of the indents 14 which is then in engagement with the flat spring 15.

When weaving filling yarns of different diameters, the depressors 18 for the thicker threads can be set accordingly higher by unscrewing the corresponding setting nuts 13, so that due to the adjusted position in height of the depressors, all filling threads are blocked at the same moment when the upper part 6 pivots down. By reversing the setting nuts 13 to the mark 34, the device can be reset instantly to weave yarns of equal diameter.

It will be appreciated that for most filling yarns, a foot 32 formed from metal is suitable. However, where the filling yarns of particularly low strength are used in the weaving process, depressors with a foot in the form of a rubber buffer 35 (see FIG. 4) can be'used, which also can be provided with a thin, flexible metal sheet or face shield 36 as a covering so as to prevent cutting-in by the filling threads. I

A further alternative which is shown in FIG. provides for a fiat clip spring 37 for each depressor mounted on the upper part 6, with the curved face of the free end of the spring resting against the face 3 of the lower part and under the depressor. The fiat clip spring acts as a constant brake for the filling threads by keeping a slight tension force on the filling threads at all times as the threads pass between the clip springs 37 and the face 3.

At the side opposite to the eccentric part 24 of the stud 25 is mounted another eccentric stud 49. This stud engages in an eye of a connecting rod 39 which, with its other end, is joined to a lever 40 of a thread intake guide 43. The thread intake guide 43, which is provided with guiding eyelets 44, is pivotably borne on studs 41 and 42 mounted on the lower part 2.

The stud 25 is provided with a handle 38. If the stud 25 is turned with the handle by approximately 180, the upper part 6 is lifted substantially off the lower part 2 due to the movement of the angle lever 26 borne on the eccentric part 24 and the force of the compression spring 22. At the same time, the thread intake guide 43 is swung out by the connecting rod 39 due to the movement of the eccentric stud 49. In this position, the whole filling clamp is easily accessible for cleaning.

A thread outlet guide 45 is pivotably borne on the studs 46 and 47 on the lower part 2. It is preferably held in the operating position (as shown) by means of a spring loaded snapping ball or detent holding means 48 and can also be swung out for cleaning purposes.

The disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrative thereof and various changes and modifications can be made, as will be appreciated, all within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts contained therein and the invention is not to be restricted except by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine having selective filling insertions of the loop insertion type, for applying an individual exact biasing force to each ofa plurality of filling threads during periodic, simultaneous clamping thereof between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion comprising: clamping means having fixed and movable clamping members pivotably connected to each other on an axis at right angles to said filling thread and actuated by said weaving machine in the cycle of the filling thread insertion, said fixed clamping member having a clamping face common to all filling threads and the movable clamping member having a plurality of spring loaded thread depressor means, one for each filling thread that is movably guided perpendicular to said clamping face; said depressor means adjustably fixed in position with respect to and carried by said movable clamping member during movement thereof so as to be moved positively therewith; adjusting means operatively connected to each depressor means to determine the stop position of the bottom end portion of said depressor means in relation to said clamping face; said movable clamping member spring biased for movement out of its clamping position in relation to said fixed clamping member and said fixed clamping member provided with lever means rotatably mounted thereon having one end thereof operatively connected to said movable clamping member and its other end operatively connected to said weaving machine; whereby movement of each said thread depressor means is effected by said movable clamping member in a predeterminable positive fashion to provide for exactly simultaneous clamping of all the filling threads at the desired moment.

2. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable clamping member is pivotably hinged to said fixed clamping member so as to permit each of said depressor means to be tilted back together away from the direction of entry of the filling threads between said clamping members to facilitate the cleaning of said device.

3. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom end portion of said depressor means that clamps against the filling thread is a rubber buffer.

4. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 3 in which said rubber buffer has a metal cap that clamps against the filling thread.

5. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom end surface portion of said depressor means that clamps against the filler thread is cylindrical in shape with the axis of said cylindrical surface disposed at least approximately normal to the major axis of said depressor means.

6. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein a flat spring is operatively connected to each depressor means with one end portion mounted on said movable clamping member and the other end portion resting against said common clamping face and acting as a constant filling thread brake for threads passing between said flat spring and said clamping face.

7. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein each depressor means is stud shaped and is slidably guided in a bore defined in one of said clamping member and in a bore defined in a setting nut threadedly mounted in said one clamping member, whereby one face of the setting nut serves as a stop face for the setting of the bottom portion of said depressor means in relationship to said clamping face.

8. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 7 wherein a compression spring is guided in said bore defined in said one clamping member, being biased between the bottom end of said setting nut and a shoulder positioned on said stud shaped depressor means.

9. A thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine having selective filling insertions of the loop insertion type, for applying a positive individual biasing force to each ofa plurality of filling threads during periodic, simultaneous clamping thereof between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion characterized in that a fixed clamping means and a movable clamping means are provided, said fixed and movable clamping means pivotably connected to each other on an axis at right angles to said filling thread and actuated by said weaving machine in the cycle of the filling thread insertion, one of said clamping means having a clamping face common to all filling threads and the other clamping means having a plurality of spring loaded depressor means, one for each filling thread that is movably guided perpendicular to said clamping face; and an adjusting means operatively connected to each depressor means to determine the stop position of the bottom end portion of said depressor means in relation to said clamping face; said movable clamping means biased for movement out of its clamping position in relation to said fixed clamping means by the action of a compression spring and said fixed clamping means having an angle lever rotatably mounted thereon with one end thereof operatively connected to said movable clamping means and said other end operatively connected to said weaving machine, said angle lever being operatively connected to a first eccentric part mounted on a stud that is guided for r0- tation in said fixed clamping means, whereby movement of said movable clamping means to a clamping position is effected upon rotation of the angle lever during a cycle of the filling insertion.

10. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 9 wherein said stud is operatively connected to a second eccentric part with a pivotable thread guide operatively connected thereto, whereby rotation of said stud opens said clamping device and pivots said thread guide out of guiding position to permit cleaning of said clamping device. 

1. A thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine having selective filling insertions of the loop insertion type, for applying an individual exact biasing force to each of a plurality of filling threads during periodic, simultaneous clamping thereof between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion comprising: clamping means having fixed and movable clamping members pivotably connected to each other on an axis at right angles to said filling thread and actuated by said weaving machine in the cycle of the filling thread insertion, said fixed clamping member having a clamping face common to all filling threads and the movable clamping member having a plurality of spring loaded thread depressor means, one for each filling thread that is movably guided perpendicular to said clampiNg face; said depressor means adjustably fixed in position with respect to and carried by said movable clamping member during movement thereof so as to be moved positively therewith; adjusting means operatively connected to each depressor means to determine the stop position of the bottom end portion of said depressor means in relation to said clamping face; said movable clamping member spring biased for movement out of its clamping position in relation to said fixed clamping member and said fixed clamping member provided with lever means rotatably mounted thereon having one end thereof operatively connected to said movable clamping member and its other end operatively connected to said weaving machine; whereby movement of each said thread depressor means is effected by said movable clamping member in a predeterminable positive fashion to provide for exactly simultaneous clamping of all the filling threads at the desired moment.
 2. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable clamping member is pivotably hinged to said fixed clamping member so as to permit each of said depressor means to be tilted back together away from the direction of entry of the filling threads between said clamping members to facilitate the cleaning of said device.
 3. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom end portion of said depressor means that clamps against the filling thread is a rubber buffer.
 4. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 3 in which said rubber buffer has a metal cap that clamps against the filling thread.
 5. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein the bottom end surface portion of said depressor means that clamps against the filler thread is cylindrical in shape with the axis of said cylindrical surface disposed at least approximately normal to the major axis of said depressor means.
 6. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein a flat spring is operatively connected to each depressor means with one end portion mounted on said movable clamping member and the other end portion resting against said common clamping face and acting as a constant filling thread brake for threads passing between said flat spring and said clamping face.
 7. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 1 wherein each depressor means is stud shaped and is slidably guided in a bore defined in one of said clamping member and in a bore defined in a setting nut threadedly mounted in said one clamping member, whereby one face of the setting nut serves as a stop face for the setting of the bottom portion of said depressor means in relationship to said clamping face.
 8. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 7 wherein a compression spring is guided in said bore defined in said one clamping member, being biased between the bottom end of said setting nut and a shoulder positioned on said stud shaped depressor means.
 9. A thread clamping device for a shuttleless weaving machine having selective filling insertions of the loop insertion type, for applying a positive individual biasing force to each of a plurality of filling threads during periodic, simultaneous clamping thereof between their stationary supply packages and the warp shed during each filling insertion characterized in that a fixed clamping means and a movable clamping means are provided, said fixed and movable clamping means pivotably connected to each other on an axis at right angles to said filling thread and actuated by said weaving machine in the cycle of the filling thread insertion, one of said clamping means having a clamping face common to all filling threads and the other clamping means having a plurality of spring loaded depressor means, one for each filling thread that is movably guided perpendicular to said clamping face; and an adjusting means operatively connected to each depressor means to determine the stop position of the bottom end portion of said depressor means in relatioN to said clamping face; said movable clamping means biased for movement out of its clamping position in relation to said fixed clamping means by the action of a compression spring and said fixed clamping means having an angle lever rotatably mounted thereon with one end thereof operatively connected to said movable clamping means and said other end operatively connected to said weaving machine, said angle lever being operatively connected to a first eccentric part mounted on a stud that is guided for rotation in said fixed clamping means, whereby movement of said movable clamping means to a clamping position is effected upon rotation of the angle lever during a cycle of the filling insertion.
 10. A filling thread clamping device as defined in claim 9 wherein said stud is operatively connected to a second eccentric part with a pivotable thread guide operatively connected thereto, whereby rotation of said stud opens said clamping device and pivots said thread guide out of guiding position to permit cleaning of said clamping device. 